Veterans dominate grappling tilt

A BUNCH of veterans continue to dominate as the 8th Grapplers Cup lured some 80 fighters from all over northern Luzon held recently at the People’s Park and organized by Team Lakay.

Gina Iniong led the awardees after winning the gold medal in the female seniors 51-57 weight class by edging upcoming Jane Christine Padul who settled for silver, while Tecthie Assudo salvaged bronze in the event supported by the City Government of Baguio.

In the male side, Jeffrey Doligas bagged the gold medal in the 50 kilograms (kgs) and below as Paul John Edralaga settled for silver, while Crispin Logawe defeated Biondi Dayangadang for the gold medal in the 51-57 kgs event with Doman Saguipil and Clifford Panas taking home the bronze medal.

Harold Banario won the gold in the 58-64 kgs event as Leonard Yap settled for silver with Tristan Rebucayo and Jervees Herrera went home with the bronze in the event also backed by FRB Foundation and the University of the Cordilleras.

Troy Bantiag took home the gold in the 64–71 kgs division with James Maquiwe settling for silver as Noel Sumingwa and Oathmar Guillan salvaging the bronze.

In the juniors division, Taro Barrientos won the gold over John Noel Astudillo as Jon Olivar settled for the bronze in the 50 kgs and below.

Mark Stephen Loman was the gold medalist in the 51-57 kgs as Joshua Pacio and Jhaymie Gayman in the 51-57 kgs, while Jean Claude Saclag took the gold in the 58-64 kgs as Giovhann Bautista bagged silver.

Jan Jan Servo won the gold in the kids division while John Ira Barrientos settled for silver.

The tournament is also Team Lakay's way of discovering talents who could possibly fit in mix martial arts where the team is currently the number one in the local Universal Reality Combat Championship where they hold at least four weight division belts.

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on November 26, 2011.